Side reaction caused by the perfluorocarbon emulsions in intravenous infusion to experimental animals

The perfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsions are infusion gas-transporting media and are usually called the artificial blood. However anaphylactoid reaction were observed during intravenous infusion of PFC emulsions. The cause of side reactions is the activation of the complement system. An indirect sign of the intravascular activation of the complement is the neutropenic effect in the peripheric blood. Taking into consideration the phenomen, the method of evaluation of anaphylactoid reaction caused by PFC emulsions has been elaborated using the neutropenic index. We evaluated the biocompatibility of 26 PFC emulsions of different composition in intravenous infusion to rabbits using this index. Emulsions evoked reactions of different extent. Some emulsions did not cause the neutropenic effect at all. Results of this work allow to reach conclusion, that influence of PFC emulsions on the complement system is explained not only by emulsifying agent proxanol: the stability of emulsions in the vascular bed and in the period of storage in frozen state is of great importance as well.